Spade for anchoring tank



Sept. 6, 1955 W. G. BANKES, JR

SPADE FOR ANCHORING TANK Filed Aug. 17, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 '6/ Will-11rd E. E'ELTLKE$,JP.

9MM4 add/QM IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Sept- 6, 1955 w. G. BANKES, JR 2,717,057

SPADE FOR ANCHORING TANK Filed Aug. 17, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Figril- 2 INVENTOR. 22 Willurd [3. Bunkes, Jr.

BY MJMMMMAW ArraZA/E Y5 2,717,357 Patented Sept. 6,1955

SPADE FOR ANCHORING TANK Willard G. Bankes, Jr., Nescopeck, Pa., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application August 17, 1954, Serial No. 450,564

8 Claims. (Cl. 188-5) This invention is an emplacement attachment for combat tanks.

Many types of emplacement means have been devised to prevent retrograde movement of cannon carriage, mobile guns and the like due to recoil forces developed during firing of a gun mounted on such vehicles. The same recoil forces are developed in combat tanks, proportionate to the size of their guns. My invention provides a stabilizing mechanism which will anchor a tank in a selected emplaced position, after firing a few test rounds of its gun without the necessity of repeatedly zeroizing the gun.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a spade which can be pivotally secured to the rear end of a tank and provided with means for locking the device in raised or travelling position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which can be easily and quickly lowered to ground engaging position when the tank has arrived at a desired position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which will penetrate the ground surface to a desired depth when lowered and the tank is backed up a short distance.

A still further object of the invention is to provide spring means to counterbalance the dead load of the emplacement attachment to aid manual positioning thereof.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of a combat tank showing one application of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear end view of the tank showing the emplacement attachment in travelling position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the gear means for transferring rotation of the spade to a torsion bar, taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of thelatch mechanism taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the latch mechanism taken on the line 55 of Figure 4 showing the releasing lever for the latch mechanism, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the latch mechanism taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown one form of the invention, the reference character 10 indicates a combat tank having an under closure 11, side walls 12 and 12, and a rear wall 13, all as com monly found in a combat tank. Further reference herein to a tank means a combat tank.

Secured to the rear wall 13 of the tank near the bottom thereof, are a pair of brackets 14 and 14 which are symmetrically spaced from the center thereof, each bracket supporting a respective spade 15 and 15'. The brackets and spades are spaced apart a substantial distance to afford maximum uniform. resistance to retrograde movement of the tank across its entire breadth and to prevent a slewing movement of the tank during emplacement thereof and when firing its gun. Figure 2. The spades are formed of fabricated sheet metal plates welded together in the form illustrated, or any preferred form to suit the requirements of different size tanks, to which the attachment is applied. At their free ends the spades 15 and 15 are joined by a concaved plate 16 which extends the overall horizontal distance between the outermost extremities of the spades and forms a part of each spade structure.

Sharpened teeth or tines 16 are secured to the ground engaging edge of concaved plate 16 to initially break the ground surface and insure easier entrance therein of the plate 16. The spades 15 and 15 and the supporting brackets 14 and 14 are identical, except for right and left hand attachment to the tank. Each spade is formed with an inner side wall 17 and an outer side wall 18, both of which are triangularly shaped and are bent at 19 so as to converge from a point near their attachment to the concaved plate 16 toward the median plane of the spade. The side walls 17 and 18 terminate in parallel spaced fingers 20 having axially aligned rectangular openings 21 therein.

Secured, to the fingers by any means, such as welding, is an attaching lug 22 which is provided with a rectangular opening 23 of the same size as and coaxial with the openings 21 in the fingers 28, Figure 3.

The brackets 14 and 14', hereinbefore referred to are secured to the rear wall 13 of the tank 10 at opposite sides thereof by welding, indicated at 24 in Figure 3, and each have spaced parallel arms 25 and 26. The inner arm 25 of each bracket is bored at 27 and fitted with a bearing sleeve 28 while the outer arm 26 is bored at 29 coaxial with and having a greater diameter than the bore 27. to receive a bearing sleeve 31 In assembling the spades 15 and 15 with their respective brackets 14 and 14', the attaching lug 22 of each spade is inserted between the arms 25 and 26 of its respective bracket and when the openings 23 of the attaching lugs. 22 are aligned with the bearings 28 and 34) of each bracket pivot pins 31 are inserted therethrough.

Each pivot pin is formed at its headed end 32, with a cylindrical bearing engaging portion 33 and a diametrically reduced cylindrical bearing engaging portion 34 to rotate in the bearing sleeves 3t and 28, respectively. Intermediate the cylindrical portions 33 and 34, the pivot pin is provided with a rectangular portion 35 of the same dimensions as the rectangular openings 23 in the attaching lug 20 by means of which the pivot pin and lug are secured together for joint rotation. Other key means may be used to fix the attaching lug to the pivot pin if desired. The inner end of the pivot pin is further reduced diametrically as at 36 and has secured thereto a bevel gear wheel 37 as by a key 38, Figure 3.

Formed integral with each bracket 14 and 14 is a boss 39 having a bore 49 formed therein whose longitudinal axis is disposed at a 98 angle to the longitudinal axes of the bores 27 and 29 in the arms 25 and 26. A bearing sleeve 41 is secured in the bore 4% and rotatably receives the hub 42 of a bevel gear wheel 43 which is constantly in mesh with the bevel gear 37. Each gear wheel 43 has a bore 44, formed axially thereof and throughout its length, in which one end of a torsionbar 45 is secured by splines 46. At its distal end the torsion bar is anchored, by the splines 47 in an anchor block 48, Figure 1. The torsion bar is of substantial length and resilience to counterbalance the dead load of the spade and also assist manual lifting and lowering of the spade to extreme up and down positions.

When the tank is travelling or parked the spades are raised and secured by latch mechanisms positioned within easy reach of the tank crew. Secured to the outer side wall 18 of each spade is a bracket 49 having spaced parallel cars through which a pivot pin 51 extends to support one end of a latch bar 52, the opposite end 53 of which is hook shaped, Figure 1. The bar 52 is provided at its pivoted end with angular stop extensions 54 which engage the adjacent inner surface of the bracket 49 to limit the pivotal movement of the bar in unlocked position, Figure 6. A helical spring 56, secured at one end in a loop 57 on the bracket 49 and at its other end on a pin 58, resiliently holds the latch bar 52 in locked position with a keeper 59. The keeper is carried in parallel arms 60 of a casting 61 which is secured to the rear Wall 13 of the tank. An opening 62 is formed in the wall 13 through which an extension 63 of the casting 61 extends. Rotatably mounted in a bore 64 in the casting 61 is a shaft 65 to which a latch release lever 66 is secured. A finger 67 is secured to the shaft 65 and contacts the under side of hook 53 to press upwardly and release the hook from its keeper 59 when the lever 66 is pulled down. The lever 66 is inside the tank in a position within easy reach of the crew and is held in raised position by a helical spring 68, Figures 1, 4 and 5.

Openings are formed in the parallel arms 60 of the casting 61 at a point above the keeper 59. When the hook shaped end 53 of the latch bar 52 is engaged with the keeper 59, a locking pin 76 is inserted through the openings 75 to prevent accidental displacement of the hook. The locking pin 76 has a handle 77 for easy insertion and removal thereof.

An arm 69 of fabricated sheet metal strips is secured to each spade and has secured to its free end a first pad 70 which engages a second pad 71 secured to the under closure 11 of the tank hull to stop the spade in its most effective position for resisting rearward movement of the tank after the spade has entered the ground, Figures 1 and 2.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the tank has arrived at a desired location for emplacement the pins 76 of each latch mechanism are removed by their handles 77 and the release levers 66 are pulled downwardly to rotate their shafts 65 and connected fingers 67 in a clockwise direction. The fingers 67 press upwardly against the hook shaped ends 53 of the latch bars 52 against the bias of helical springs 56 and release the bars from their keepers 59. The spades are not allowed to drop but are lowered manually, to ground engaging position, the torsion bar 45 continuously opposing the dead load of the splines to effect easier handling. When the spades contact the ground surface the tank is backed a short distance to force the free ends of the spades into the ground until the stop pads 70 contact the pads 71.

When the tank is to leave its emplaced position it is moved forward a short distance to free the spades from the ground, after which the spades are raised manually with the assistance of the bias generated in the torsion bars during the lowering operation of the spades. The stop extension 54 on the lever 52 holds the lever against the bias of spring 56 in such position that the hook end thereof will contact the keeper 59 and will cam upwardly thereover and snap into locked engagement therewith when the spade is fully raised, Figure 6. The locking pin 76 can then be inserted in the openings in the arms 60 of the casting 61 and the tank is then ready to travel.

While I have disclosed a form of the invention presently preferred by me, various changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art after a study of the present disclosure. Hence the disclosure is to be taken in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense; and it is my desire and intention to reserve all modifications falling within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having now fully disclosed the invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A spade for arresting retrograde movement of a vehicle comprising a body portion having ground Surface engaging means on one end thereof and an attaching lug formed on its other end, a supporting bracket secured to said vehicle, a horizontally disposed pivot element journalled for rotation in said bracket and fixed in said attaching lug for rotation therewith, a torsion bar secured at one end to said vehicle and having its opposite end positioned adjacent said horizontally disposed pivot element, and means connecting said torsion bar and pivot element for transferring the dead load of said spade to said torsion bar to assist manual raising of said spade to travelling position.

2. A spade for arresting retrograde movement of a vehicle comprising a body portion having ground surface engaging means on one end thereof and an attaching lug having an aperture therein formed on its other end,

a supporting bracket secured to said vehicle and having bearing means formed therein, a pivot element journalled for rotation in said bearing means and fixed in the aperture of said lug for rotation with said spade, a torsion bar anchored at one end in said vehicle and having its opposite end journalled for rotation in said supporting bracket, and gear means connecting the adjacent ends 7 of said pivot element and torsion bar for transferring the dead load of said spade to said torsion bar.

3. A spade for arresting retrograde movement of a vehicle comprising a body portion having ground surface engaging means on one end thereof and an attaching lug having an aperture therein formed on its other end, a supporting bracket having bearing means formed therein secured to said vehicle, a pivot element journalled for rotation in said bearing means, means formed in said apertured lug and pivot element to effect simultaneous rotation when said spade is rais d or lowered, a torsion bar anchored at one end in said vehicle and having its opposite end journalled for rotation in said supporting bracket at a angle to said pivot element, gear means connecting the adjacent ends of said pivot element and torsion bar for transferring the dead load of said spade to said torsion bar, stop means on said spade and vehicle to limit rotational movement of the spade in lowered ground engaging positian, and a latch mechanism for holding said spade in raised inoperative position.

4. A spade for arresting retrograde movement of a vehicle comprising a fabricated sheet metal body portion having ground surface engaging means on one end thereof and an attaching lug having an aperture therein formed on its other end, a supporting bracket secured to said vehicle and having a horizontally disposed bearing therein, a pivot element journalled for rotation in said bearing, spline means in said aperture and pivot element to effect simultaneous rotational movement thereof, a torsion bar disposed at a 90 angle to said pivot element, one end thereof being journalled for rotation in said supporting bracket adjacent one end of said pivot element, the distal end of the tortion bar being anchored in said vehicle, and intermeshing gear means secured to the adjacent ends of said pivot element and torsion bar whereby the dead load of said spade is transferred to said torsion bar to facilitate raising said spade to travelling position.

5. A spade for arresting retrograde movement of a vehicle comprising a body portion having ground surface engaging means on one end thereof and an attaching lug having a rectangular aperture therein formed on its other end, a supporting bracket secured to said vehicle and having a first horizontally disposed bearing therein, a pivot element journalled for rotation in said first bearing and having a rectangular portion intermediate its ends to be received in the rectangular aperture in said attaching lug for simultaneous rotational movement thereof during raising and lowering of the spade, a second horizontally disposed bearing formed in the supporting bracket and having its axis disposed at an angle of 90 to the first horizontal bearing, a torsion bar having its rear end 7 journalled for rotation in the second horizontally disposed bearing and having its forward end anchored to said vehicle, and intermeshing gear means secured to the adjacent ends of said pivot element and torsion bar whereby the dead load of said spade is transferred to said torsion bar.

6. A spade for arresting retrograde movement of a vehicle comprising a body portion having ground surface engaging means on one end thereof and an attaching lug having a rectangular aperture therein formed on its other end, a supporting bracket secured to said vehicle including a first bearing and a second bearing whose longitudinal axis is disposed in the same plane and at a 90 angle to the axis of said first bearing, a pivot element journalled for rotation in said first bearing and having a rectangular portion to be received in the rectangular aperture of said attaching lug to effect rotation of said pivot element when the spade is rotated about the axis of said pivot element, a torsion bar having a forward end anchored to said vehicle and a rearward end journalled for rotation in said second bearing, means connecting the rearward end of the torsion bar and the pivot element for transferring rotational movement of said pivot element to said torsion bar, an arm secured to said spade and having a first pad thereon, stop means comprising a second pad secured to the vehicle in the rotational path of said first pad to hold said spade in ground engaging position, and cooperating latch means secured to said spade and vehicle to hold the spade in travelling position.

7. In an emplacement attachment for a combat tank a spade comprising a body portion having ground surface engaging means on one end thereof and an attaching lug formed on its other end, a supporting bracket secured to said vehicle, a horizontally disposed pivot element journalled for rotation in said bracket and fixed in said attaching lug for rotation therewith, a torsion bar I secured at one end to said vehicle and having its opposite end positioned adjacent said horizontally disposed pivot element, means connecting said torsion bar and pivot element for transferring the dead load of said spade to said torsion bar to assist manual raising of said spade, and a latch mechanism for holding said spade in raised position said latch mechanism comprising a latch member having a hooked end portion, a pivot element mounted on said spade whereby said latch is secured to said spade, a contractile spring member secured to said spade and latch member, a keeper element secured to said vehicle to receive said hooked end of the latch member, removable lock means for holding the hooked end of said latch member in the keeper, and means for disengaging said hook and keeper when said lock means is removed.

8. In an emplacement attachment for a combat vehicle, a spade comprising a body portion having ground surface engaging means on one end thereof and an attaching lug formed on its other end, a bracket secured to the rearward portion of the vehicle, a first shaft passing through aligned apertures in said attaching lug and bracket and fixed to said lug for pivotal movement therewith, counterbalance means comprising a torsion shaft secured at one end to said vehicle, and gear means connecting said first shaft and the remaining end of said torsion shaft for conjoint rotation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,719,313 Scott July 2, 1929 1,808,797 Uhlman June 9, 1931 1,808,852 Lance June 9, 1931 2,663,226 Meyer et a1 Dec. 22, 1953 

